r. Governor, First Lady, Ambassador, Mrs. Secretary, Mr. President of Acerinox, Mr. President of North American Stainless, Ladies and Gentleman.

It is both an honor and a great pleasure to be here today, to participate in this event, in which we inaugurate one of the world´s most advanced "hot rolling" installations. It is the fruit of a partnership, a tangible result of the mutual benefits that derive from closer international cooperation, more and more essential if one wants to compete in a globalized world economy.

In today´s world, and specially in heavy industry, partnerships must be found and alliances forged that transcend national boundaries in the same manner that the problems they face surpass mere national scales. Cooperation and synergy are the keys of today´s and tomorrow´s competitiveness. Joint-ventures like the one we have before us today are the best way forward.

This plant culminates the decade-long alliance between ACERINOX and North American Stainless, which has flourished thanks to the interest and support of the Government and people of this Commonwealth of Kentucky, who from the very first day, supported this project unstingtingly.

And quite honestly, it is also a motive for pride, being as it is one of Spain's major industrial investments abroad, with state-of-the-art technology that so well represents the new and modern Spanish reality. A reality that is not so well known here but forms, nonetheless, an integral and vital part of what we are today and where we will be going tomorrow.

I am sure that the excellent results achieved in this joint-venture will help to reinforce our mutual links, promote a better understanding between our countries and serve as an example for future cooperation.